Frame?

[85xtracab]

my trucks got 200,000+ miles on it and i live in connecticut.......the frame on the truck is rotted pretty bad right now and i dont want to let it go any more......i dont have the money to make or buy a new frame or do a total frame off restoration......our last resort if to patch it and weld sections into those spots........if this is done right do you think it will hold up?? and if not what other alternatives could i do?

[Rescue]

I've been busy the last few weeks patching my frame. The side of the gas tank was almost non exixtant. Even so that my spring perch ripped out while driving in town.:( From the outside it looked ok... When I took the gas tank away I was baffled how my truck didn't break in two!! It is almost all done...It was a heck of a job to do in the field(no garage) I removed the gas tank, ran the 3 fuel lines of tubing to the tank so I could use my onboard welder

Ya you can patch it up but there are ways to do it right. I used 1/8 and 3/16"x 5", 4", 2" flat stock accordingly.

do large sections and either do this; ( ) or >< at the ends, this will prevent major stress at that point when you weld the ends.

Also in the sections do rosette welds. Drill or torch large holes in the flat stock and weld them to the frame.

When your all done, lube the inside of the frame....

[robrocketanski]

i have had a couple that were patched. one done by me and one i bought that way. i have parted out 4 trucks due to rotted frames. one broke when i went to the store for beer. it was bent in half pretty bad and when i chopped it up it held until i unbolted the gas tank then it went all the way. it was only the tank holding it together!

[Kyron]

Its easy for me to say this ..........

Do a road trip and buy a rust free truck or buy a tubing bender and make your own frame.

Rust is an evil thing that never sleeps :angryfire

[TOYOTAFREAK]

If you can weld then i would say fix it !
Do not be discouraged from rotted out frames. You can fix just about anything with some talent and a welder.

I have fixed SO MANY rotted out frames for people who were gonna send their trucks to the boneyard and those trucks and jeeps are still being driven now!

I would say grab some 3/32 6010 or 6011 rods and weld away. Clean the steel off the best you can and then plan out how you are going to lay down the patches.. wherever there is a solid spot on the frame thats behind the plate do EXACTLY what Rescue said about the rosette weld or like other people call them "plug welds" . I just finished up a YJ that was pretty bad.. but now it's all good.. Took me 3 days and some work but now the guy is happier than hell and he wheels it alot.

If you have any more questions feel free to ask.


Here is the before shot of the driver side frame. the shackle had broken free inside the frame and was walking all over the place.

[TOYOTAFREAK]

Here is the pass side after being fixed..

Fried the plates in with 6010 then went over with 7018.

the pass side was a MESS back there.. i was literally pushing my fingers through it like it was tinfoil .

But It's a JEEP THING :yes:




TF